Spring device for rotating and launching a projectile

ABSTRACT

A discoid target launcher. A hand-held trap employs a springloaded shaft mounted for limited sliding movement within an upstanding pipe and carrying a platform at its upper end. During launching, the shaft and platform are impelled by the spring and are simultaneously rotated. This propels the target from the platform vertically into the air with no appreciable recoil or shock and imparts a stabilizing spin to the target solely through frictional engagement between the rotating platform and the target.

United States Patent Plumb, Jr, Jan. 18, 1972 [54] SPRING DEVICE FOR ROTATING AND 3,517,656 6/1970 Darrell ..124/42 x LAUNCHING A PRO ECTILE J FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I tf m] Invent fizzg gg Hat M St Dver 102,978 4/1926 Austria ..124/16 [22] Filed: July 17, 1969 Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-William R. Browne [211 App! 842517 Attorney-Cesari and McKenna [52] U.S.C1 ..l24/16, 124/43, 124/37, [57] ABSTRACT [51] in C1 A discoid target launcher. A hand-held trap employs a spring- [58] Fie'ld 42 loaded shaft mounted for limited sliding movement within an 1 upstanding pipe and carrying a platform at its upper end. During launching, the shaft and platform are impelled by the spring and are simultaneously rotated. This propels the target [56] References Cited from the platform vertically into the air with no appreciable UNITED STATES PATENTS recoil or shock and imparts a stabilizing spin to the target sole- 1y through frictional engagement between the rotating plat- 368,307 8/1887 Rhodes ..46/84 X f and the target 2,781,753 2/1957 Formis ..124/16 2,891,795 6/1959 Glintz ..124/37 UX 12 Claims, 1 Drawing Figures ill 1 PATENTED JAN 1 8 I972 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH H. PLUMB. JR.

49%, 624% at? A TOR N vs SPRING DEVICE FOR ROTATING AND LAUNCIIING A PROJECTILE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved technique for launching moving targets. It relates more particularly to a trap capable of launching a spinning target straight up into the air.

Traps have long been used by sportsmen to launch clay pigeons into the air. The men test or improve their marksmanship by shooting down the clay pigeons. More recently, rifle instructors have been using traps to train soldiers to shoot more accurately. This is because it has been found that a mans marksmanship is improved considerably if he learns to fire at a target by raising his rifle to his shoulder and sluing the piece as fast as possible to the target and then firing with both eyes open without carefully sighting on the target. This technique is completely different from the prior practice of placing the gun at the shoulder and then carefully aiming at the target before firing.

This improved firing technique demands new training procedures to replace the old practice of firing at a stationary target from a fixed firing line. These procedures involve teaching the trainee to hold the rifle at waist level and pointed down toward the ground and then, on signal, raise it to his shoulder and slue it to the target as fast as possible and then fire with botheyes open and without aiming carefully through the gunsight.

In order to quicken the trainees reflexes and minimize his overall firing time, it is desirable to position the target at which he is to shoot almost directly overhead so that he has to swing the gun over a relatively large distance before he can fire at the target. If he masters that, he has no trouble sluing the gun through smaller distances and firing accurately at real targets on the ground or in trees or buildings.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been proposed to use conventional traps to train the men to use this new firing technique. These traps employ spring-loaded arms which sling a discoid target into the air. However, they have not been entirely satisfactory for this purpose because they hurl the target so that it follows a rather flat trajectory. Consequently, the trainee does not have to swing his rifle very far in order to line up the target. In addition, because of the targets relatively shallow trajectory, the projectiles fired at the target travel a relatively great distance over the ground. Accordingly, those rifle ranges which are relatively small or are located near populated areas cannot be used to teach this new firing technique. The prior traps are disadvantaged also because they are relatively bulky and expensive pieces of equipment and cannot stand sustained use without maintenance. Moreover, they cannot, as a practical matter, be hand held in use because of their size and the excessive recoil and shock which they generate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention aims to provide a trap which is particularly suited for teaching marksmanship by the fast slue method.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trap which propels a target substantially vertically into the air with minimum recoil and shock and simultaneously imparts a stabilizing spin to it.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap which launches a moving target so that it travels a relatively small distance over the ground.

Another object is to provide a trap which is relatively inexpensive to make.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a trap which is relatively light and compact so that it can be hand held in use.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a trap for a moving target which is capable of sustained operation for a relatively long period without requiring maintenance or repair.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trap for moving targets which can be operated by relatively unskilled personnel.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises apparatus embodying the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

Briefly, the present trap propels a flat, disclike target straight up into the air and, at the same time, imparts a stabilizing spin to the target. The trap comprises a short pipe having a relatively large diameter plate aflixed to its upper end. A shaft extending through the plate and into the pipe carries a launching platform at its upper end. A spring compressed between the platform and a plate exerts an upward force on the shaft. A slot having a helical twist is formed in the wall of the pipe coaxially therewith and a pin affixed to the shaft extends into the slot.

In use, the shaft is pushed down into the tube until a trigger engages the pin and holds the shaft in its retracted position. Then a discoid target is placed face down on the platform. When the trigger is actuated to release the shaft, the spring impels the shaft and platform upwards. The pin on the shaft is constrained to follow the helical slot so that the shaft rotates rapidly about its axis as it moves upward in the pipe. Consequently, the target resting on the platform is given a simultaneous upward and spinning motion.

Since there is no linkage or connection between the launching platform and the target, the latter is launched substantially vertically into the air. Yet, a stabilizing spin is imparted to the target solely because of its frictional engagement with the spinning platform. Thus, the target has a minimum tendency to tumble in the air and presents an excellent target for the marksman. The rifleman must slue his gun through a relatively great distance before he can bring it to bear on the target directly overhead. Moreover, since the target is substantially overhead, the projectiles fired from his gun travel a relatively little distance over the ground. Therefore, he can practice on a relatively small range area without presenting a hazard to people near the range.

The trap is quite small and lightweight. Also, it produces a minimum amount of recoil and shock upon firing. Therefore, it can be held in the hand when used without any material inconvenience to the operator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts cut away of my improved spring trap as it launches a moving target;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view with parts in elevation showing the FIG. 1 trap in greater detail;

FIG. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2', and

FIG. 4 is a view along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. I of the drawing, the trap indicated generally at 10 has a spring-loaded launching platform l2 which supports a relatively lightweight flat discoid target 14. Upon actuation of a trigger assembly indicated generally at 16 near the bottom of the trap, platform 12 is impelled by a spring 18 straight up into the air and, at the same time, spun rapidly about its axis. Target 14 is impelled vertically along with platform 12. Also, a stabilizing spin is imparted to the target through its frictional engagement with platform 12 so that it is launched substantially vertically into the air and has a minimum tendency to tumble in the air overhead.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, trap 10 comprises a short pipe 20, typically about 5 inches long and about We inches ID.

A slightly wider discoid plate 22 is welded to the bottom of pipe 20.

A second relatively thick discoid plate 28 having a central axial passage 30 is secured to the top of pipe 20. More particularly, plate 28 has a depending reduced diameter portion 28a (FIG. 2) which fits within pipe 20. Screws 32 hold plate 28 in the pipe.

Pipe 20 contains a shaft 38 of comparable length which slidably extends through opening 30 in plate 28. Platform 12 which is in the form of a rigid discoid plate, typically about 3-4 inches in diameter, is secured at its center to the upper end of shaft 38 above plate 28.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a collar 40 is mounted on shaft 38 near the bottom thereof. Collar 40 is fixed to move with the shaft by means of a pin 42 which extends sideways into collar 40 and through shaft 38 with a press fit. The end 42:: of pin 42 extends out sideways from collar 40 and projects through helical slot 56 formed in pipe 20. Slot 56 extends from the upper end of pipe 20 to a point just below collar 40 when shaft 38 is retracted as in FIG. 2. The helical slot is coaxial with pipe 20 and, in the illustrated embodiment, it twists through an angle of approximately 90.

Still referring to FIG. 2, spring 18 engages around shaft 38 between platform 12 and plate 28. It sits in a dished-out portion 28b of plate 28. Its bottom coil 18a is secured to plate 28 by means of hooks 60 which engage over coil 18a and extend down through plate 28. Hooks 60 are tightened down toward plate 28 by nuts 62 which are turned down on the threaded ends 60a of the hooks as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The upper spring coil 18b is held against the underside of platform 12 by a pin 66 which extends under coil 18b and snugly through a transverse passage 68 near the top of shaft 38 Preferably, also, spring 18 is conical as shown so that when the spring is compressed, its top coil 18b is flat against plate 28 within its bottom coil 180. Also, spring 18 is relatively stiff, exerting about 120 pounds when compressed 2 inches.

When shaft 38 is in its fully retracted position within pipe 20, as indicated in FIG. 2, spring 18 is under compression between platform 12 and plate 28. Shaft 38 is held in this fully retracted position by trigger assembly 16.

As best seen in FIG. 1, trigger assembly 16 comprises a U- shaped latch member 72 pivoted at 74 to pipe 20. A short leg 72a of the latch member has a notch 76 which engages the pin end 42a projecting through slot 56 when shaft 38 is fully retracted. The other leg 72b of the latch member is relatively long and thick so as to function as a trigger.

A small helical spring 78 is stretched between a pin 80 in pipe 20 and latch member 72 on the leg 72b side of pivot 74. This spring thus biases notch 76 toward pin 42 when the shaft 38 is retracted. Lugs 82 limit the travel of latch member 72.

A cylindrical shell 84 encircles pipe 20 to protect the operators hand from the trap mechanism. Shell 84 is secured to plates 22 and 28 by screws 86 (FIG. 2) and latch member 72 projects out through slot 88 in the shell. To fire the trap, the operator simply grasps shell 84 and latch member leg 72b and squeezes. This retracts notch 76 from pin 42 and thereby releases shaft 38.

In use, trap is held in the hand. Its shaft 38 and platform 12 are pushed down to their fully retracted position shown in FIG. 2 with latch member 72 engaging pin 42. J hen a flat discoid target 14 (FIG. 1) (on the order of 3-4 inches in diameter and one-fourth inch thick) is placed face down on platform 12 so that it rests coaxially with platform 12. Target 14 is preferably quite light, being made of aluminum or the like.

When the rifleman is ready, the operator actuates trigger assembly 16. Spring 18 then propels shaft 38, as well as platform 12 and target 14, upwards. At the same time, pin 42 follows the helical slot 54 so that shaft 38 and platform 12 are rotated about their common axis as they move upwards in pipe 20. By

the time shaft 38 has reached its upper limit of travel (about 2 inches), it is rotated through an angle of about 90. As it reaches this upper limit, spring 18, being directly connected to plate 28 and shaft 38, is stretched beyond its natural extended length. Thus, spring 18 now acts as a buffer to damp out any shock forces that might arise when shaft 38 reaches its upper limit of travel. Therefore, there is a minimum amount of operator discomfort due to recoil and shock.

Target 14 frictionally engages the rotating platform 12 over a relatively large area. Also, in some cases, for maximum spin, the friction may be increased by surface treatment. Consequently, it tends to rotate along with the platform so that by the time platform 12 reaches its maximum throw and the target is launched, a substantial spin has been imparted to the target. This spin stabilizes target 14 so that the target does not tumble in the air overhead. As a result, it is propelled into the air to a height on the order of 12-20 feet and remains there for a relatively long period of time, presenting a very good target for the marksman.

It is important to note that the stabilizing spin is imparted to target 14 without any interfitting engagement with platform 12 as would tend to cause the target to be thrown ofl at some angle from platform 12. Consequently, the target follows a relatively predictable path each time it is launched from the trap 10. This is highly desirable when the trap is being used to instruct men to follow the new firing technique described above.

Generally, the height to which target 14 is propelled and its trajectory can be altered somewhat by the operator. More particularly, if the operator thrusts trap 10 upwards as he releases the target, an additional impulse is imparted to the target causing it to travel higher. Also, while normally the trap is held vertically, as shown in FIG. 2, the operator can tip it somewhat when firing so that target 14 will go off at an angle with the vertical. Thus, using both of these procedures, a variety of trajectories can be imparted to the target.

It will be seen from the foregoing, then, that my improved trap is an extremely valuable teaching aid for instructing men how to shoot accurately by sluing a gun very rapidly to the target and shooting without carefully sighting the target. The trap launches a target substantially vertically into the air and yet imparts a spin to it so that it remains stabilized in the air overhead and has no tendency to tumble. Also, since the target is propelled substantially vertically, instead of along a relatively shallow trajectory, the shooter is required to swing his gun over a relatively great distance before he can line up the target. This quickens his reflexes and generally improves his marksmanship. Also, for the same reason, the projectiles fired at the target travel a minimum distance over the ground. Consequently, the trap can be used at relatively small target ranges. I

Further, the trap is easy to operate and is constructed of a relatively few conventional rugged parts which are lightweight, inexpensive to make and require little maintenance. Therefore, the overall cost of the trap is kept to a minimum.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained.

I claim:

1. An improved trap comprising A. a housing with a longitudinally oriented helical slot closed at both ends,

B. a shaft mounted in the housing for limited movement along a target projection axis, said shaft having an end protruding from one end of said housing,

C. a platform secured to the protruding end of said shaft, said platform having means for supporting a target, said means consisting of a substantially uninterrupted planar surface on said platform transverse to the target projection axis,

D. means for biasing said shaft in said housing,

E. means for holding said shaft in a retracted position within said housing in opposition to the bias, and

F. coacting means on said shaft and disposed in the slot in said housing for rotating said shaft and platform about the axis when said shaft is released and impelled by said biasing means so that a target resting on said platform is rotated due to its frictional engagement with said platform with the result that a target is launched substantially along the axis into the air with an appreciable spin to stabilize the target in flight.

2. A trap as defined in claim 11 wherein said biasing means comprises a coil compression spring surrounding said shaft along a portion of its length.

3. A trap as defined in claim 2 wherein said coil spring has its opposite ends anchored to said housing and said platform respectively to damp shock forces which arise when said shaft reaches its limit of travel in said housing.

4. A trap as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring is a conical spring A. having its largest coil secured to the top of said housing,

and

B. having its smallest coil held against the underside of said platform.

5. A trap as defined in claim 1 wherein said coacting rotat' ing means comprise A. a helical slot in said housing coaxial with said shaft, and

B. a projection on said shaft, said projection extending into said slot so that when said shaft is impelled by said biasing means in said housing, said projection slides along said helical slot causing said shaft to rotate relative to said housing.

6. A hand-held trap for launching a moving target compris- A. an upstanding pipe including an apertured plate closing one end of said pipe,

B. a shaft mounted for limited sliding movement within said pipe, said shaft having one end protruding through said plate,

C. a launching platform secured to the protruding end of said shaft,

D. spring means engaging said plate and said platform for biasing said platform away from said plate,

E. means for retaining said shaft in a retracted position within said pipe in opposition to the spring bias,

F. a helical slot in said pipe arranged coaxially with said shaft, and

G. a projection on said shaft, said projection extending into said slot so that when said spring means moves said platform and said shaft axially within said pipe, said projection will slide along said slot so as to cause said shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

7. A trap as defined in claim 6 and further including a discoid target positioned on said platform.

8. A trap as defined in claim 6 wherein said spring means has its opposite ends anchored to said plate and platform respectively to damp shock forces which may arise once the shaft reaches its limit of travel within said pipe.

9. An improved hand-held trap for launching a moving target comprising A. an upstanding pipe,

B. a plate with an aperture mounted near the top of said pipe,

C. a shaft slidably received in said pipe and extending out of said aperture,

D. a platform secured to the upper end of said shaft above said plate,

E. a pin affixed to said shaft inside said pipe,

F. a conical coil spring surrounding said shaft and fixed at both its ends to and positioned between said plate and said platform,

G. a slot having a generally helical twist 1. formed in said pipe coaxially with said shaft, and 2. slidably receiving said pin so that when said shaft slides axially in said pipe, said shaft is caused to rotate about its lon itudinal axis, and H. means or releasably locking said shaft in a retracted position with said pipe wherein said spring is compressed so that when said locking means is released, said shaft and platform are propelled upwards and simultaneously rotated about said axis so that a target positioned on said platform is given a substantial stabilizing spin through its frictional engagement with said platform as it is being impelled upwards.

10. A trap as defined in claim 9 and further including a platelike target resting face down on said platform.

ll. A trap as defined in claim 9 wherein said locking means comprises A. a latch member 1. pivoted on said pipe, and 2. arranged to engage said pin, and

B. means for biasing said latch member into engagement with said pin.

12. A trap comprising:

A. a housing with a helical slot,

B. a launching unit having platform means for supporting a target, said means consisting of a substantially uninterrupted planar launching surface transverse to a projection axis for a target,

C. means for impelling said launching unit along the axis an appreciable distance, and

D. means on said launching unit and disposed in said slot for simultaneously rotating said platform means about the axis as the target is launched along the axis to impart a stabilizing spin to a target in flight solely through frictional engagement between the target and said platform means. 

1. An improved trap comprising A. a housing with a longitudinally oriented helical slot closed at both ends, B. a shaft mounted in the housing for limited movement along a target projection axis, said shaft having an end protruding from one end of said housing, C. a platform secured to the protruding end of said shaft, said platform having means for supporting a target, said means consisting of a substantially uninterrupted planar surface on said platform transverse to the target projection axis, D. means for biasing said shaft in said housing, E. means for holding said shaft in a retracted position within said housing in opposition to the bias, and F. coacting means on said shaft and disposed in the slot in said housing for rotating said shaft and platform about the axis when said shaft is released and impelled by said biasing means so that a target resting on said platform is rotated due to its frictional engagement with said platform with the result that a target is launched substantially along the axis into the air with an appreciable spin to stabilize the target in flight.
 2. arranged to engage said pin, and B. means for biasing said latch member into engagement with said pin.
 2. A trap as defined in claim 1 wherein said biasing means comprises a coil compression spring surrounding said shaft along a portion of its length.
 2. slidably receiving said pin so that when said shaft slides axially in said pipe, said shaft is caused to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and H. means for releasably locking said shaft in a retracted position with said pipe wherein said spring is compressed so that when said locking means is released, said shaft and platform are propelled upwards and simultaneously rotated about said axis so that a target positioned on said platform is given a substantial stabilizing spin through its frictional engagement with said platform as it is being impelled upwards.
 3. A trap as defined in claim 2 wherein said coil spring has its opposite ends anchored to said housing and said platform respectively to damp shock forces which arise when said shaft reaches its limit of travel in said housing.
 4. A trap as defined in claim 3 wherein said spring is a conical spring A. having its largest coil secured to the top of said housing, and B. having its smallest coil held against the underside of said platform.
 5. A trap as defined in claim 1 wherein said coacting rotating means comprise A. a helical slot in said housing coaxial with said shaft, and B. a projection on said shaft, said projection extending into said slot so that when said shaft is impelled by said biasing means in said housing, said projection slides along said helical slot causing said shaft to rotate relative to said housing.
 6. A hand-held trap for launching a moving target comprising A. an upstanding pipe including an apertured plate closing one end of said pipe, B. a shaft mounted for limited sliding movement within said pipe, said shaft having one end protruding through said plate, C. a launching platform secured to the protruding end of said shaft, D. spring means engaging said plate and said platform for biasing said platform away from said plate, E. means for retaining said shaft in a retracted position within said pipe in opposition to the spring bias, F. a helical slot in said pipe arranged coaxially with said shaft, and G. a projection on said shaft, said projection extending into said slot so that when said spring means moves said platform and said shaft axially within said pipe, said projection will slide along said slot so as to cause said shaft to rotate about its longitudinal axis.
 7. A trap as defined in claim 6 and further including a discoid target positioned on said platform.
 8. A trap as defined in claim 6 wherein said spring means has its opposite ends anchored to said plate and platform respectively to damp shock forces which may arise once the shaft reaches its Limit of travel within said pipe.
 9. An improved hand-held trap for launching a moving target comprising A. an upstanding pipe, B. a plate with an aperture mounted near the top of said pipe, C. a shaft slidably received in said pipe and extending out of said aperture, D. a platform secured to the upper end of said shaft above said plate, E. a pin affixed to said shaft inside said pipe, F. a conical coil spring surrounding said shaft and fixed at both its ends to and positioned between said plate and said platform, G. a slot having a generally helical twist
 10. A trap as defined in claim 9 and further including a platelike target resting face down on said platform.
 11. A trap as defined in claim 9 wherein said locking means comprises A. a latch member
 12. A trap comprising: A. a housing with a helical slot, B. a launching unit having platform means for supporting a target, said means consisting of a substantially uninterrupted planar launching surface transverse to a projection axis for a target, C. means for impelling said launching unit along the axis an appreciable distance, and D. means on said launching unit and disposed in said slot for simultaneously rotating said platform means about the axis as the target is launched along the axis to impart a stabilizing spin to a target in flight solely through frictional engagement between the target and said platform means. 